Ohio prison, local vet clinic, animal rescue team up to help dog missing part of her leg – WTVG
TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) – What do a state prison, a local vet and an animal rescue have in common? They are all part of the effort to help get a dog a new leash on life.
The local rescue organization, Planned Pethood, took the dog Lily in. She came from a puppy mill with some significant health issues. A team of people has come together to get the young chocolate lab the life-changing help she needs.
Lily was rescued by Planned Pethood last month and it was clear she needed medical attention. Lily had a broken pelvis and was missing the lower part of her left leg.
“She’s so happy and sweet and we want her to have the best life possible,” Dr. Samantha Amodeo, a certified canine rehabilitation practitioner at Perrysburg Animal Hospital said.
Lily was at Perrysburg Animal Hospital Tuesday to be fitted for a prosthetic leg. It is believed that it was a trauma-related injury and not a birth defect.
“Ultimately her left leg can’t be used at all, so in turn she was putting too much pressure on her right leg,” Dr. Amodeo said. “This prosthetic will even out her hind end so she can walk without pain, run, play and jump.”
During the fitting process, Lily was sedated to make her more comfortable.
“We had to make sure all the boney landmarks on her leg are exposed so when we shit it off to the orthopedic vet to mold it, they have an exact replica of her leg to form it properly,” Dr. Amodeo said.
Lily is part of the Planned Pethood Prison program. The program pairs dogs with inmates at the Toledo Correctional Institution for training.
“When Lily first came in, she was very shut down. It took a week or two for her even to socialize with guys in the program and she was shut down to other dogs,” Teri Tomesek, a coordinator for the program said.
After working with her handler, Lily has blossomed.
“She’s pretty laid back, she is not high energy. She likes to be loved and is an all-around good girl,” Tomesek said. “She is doing stairs, opening doors, she is out with the other dogs, they are all very proud of that.”
Those involved with the program say it is helping the inmates as much as the dogs.
“We have guys who have lost weight because they are running around with the dogs. Guys who say their mental health is a lot better. They feel like they have a responsibility and feel like they are giving back. They love it, it makes them feel human,” Tomesek said.
The prosthetic will cost about $2,000. Planned Pethood is an all-volunteer organization so they are looking for donations to help cover the cost. If you would like to help out, click here.
Lily will be up for adoption soon so be sure to check out the Planned Pethood webpage and Facebook page if you’re interested.
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